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Yeah, I remember there were a couple of Dickie Dee guys who got robbed. I remember being in the park one day and asked my daughter if she wanted an ice cream now, before the guy got robbed of his cones and money.

These were basically an ice cream cool box on a tricycle frame. Two wheels on the front and one on the rear. They were ridden by youths who would jingle bells on the handebars. These were some of the first robberies with violence (muggings) and were most often for cash but sometimes ice cream. They were usually done by older youths sort of like the iPod robberies that are now happening here.

Wow, this is absolutely amazing! I've been looking for a place where people share memories of Edmonton and really hit the jackpot when I found this fantastic site. I've been spending a few hours reading some of the posts here and I'm literally stunned by what I've found! There are people here that went to the same school at the same time I did and have the same memories, cbcharlesmillar being just one. He mentioned going to Norwood Elementary and having Mr.Bosch as his Grade 4 teacher - so did I! This just blows me away - could you have been in his class with me? Mr.Bosch was a great guy and a wonderful teacher, someone I'll remember as long as I live.

I lived in Edmonton from 1956 to 1974 when we moved to BC, but I've really always been an Edmontonian at heart. We were literally buried in snow that winter and I vowed never again. To this day, in some ways I regret that decision, but that's life.

We lived in Norwood at first, in a tiny white house - now long gone - at 11532-92nd street. I have incredibly fond memories of my childhood there, and what really stands out is how friendly the people there were, especially the kids. It was a pretty diverse neighbourhood, with lots of European immigrants, including us. We came to Canada from the Netherlands in the Spring of '56 when I was still an ankle-biter. One neighbour a few doors down from us was a black family by the name of Jones whose youngest son Mickey was my best friend. I never gave the fact that he was black a thought until I was a few years older and the race riots in the States started happening and I don't anyone else did either. There was another kid across the street from us that was confined to a wheelchair because of serious congenital spinal problems, but that didn't stop the rest of us kids from befriending him. I'm still amazed how innocent kids were at the time, and a lot of adults as well.

I've noticed some other folks here have memories of the old Stop 'N Shop on 115 Ave and 92 St. We loved going there for penny candy ( remember the little black licorice ones we used to call nigger-babies without even thinking about what it meant? Oh my...) and ice-cream cones for a dime. Popsicles were 6 cents. That store's still there, now it's the 115 Ave. Supermarket. I'm not sure if it's still the original building though, my memory of it is a bit different.

In 1962 we moved to a new house in Rosslyn, on 104 St. and 133 Ave. just a couple of blocks from my new school, Scott Robertson Elementary. I remember the duck-and-cover air raid drills and the siren that was installed on a big pole near the corner of 134A Ave. and 105 St. My parents lived through WW2 in Europe and when that siren went off it scared the living daylights out of my Mom. I remember the Cuban Missile Crisis and how afraid I was that we would all be fried to a crisp in the nuclear war that everyone felt was just around the corner, not much fun when you're only 11 years old.

Another vivid memory I have is the day President Kennedy was assassinated. I was in my Grade 6 class when the principal came on the PA and told everyone what had happened and that school was being dismissed for the day. His name was Mr.Quail and his voice was cracking with emotion so we barely understood what he said. I remember my Mom was crying when I got home. An incredibly sad day.

I have lots of happy memories of growing up in a wonderful city. The old Edmonton will always be with us thanks to this great site. I'm hooked!

^ Yes, that's the grocery store on Jasper Ave/117 St.
In all its latter iterations...Hull's, Champions, etc...it has always retained a Safeway-like feel.
I'm guessing that Safeway pulled out of there when Oliver Square first opened?

“You have to dream big. If we want to be a little city, we dream small. If we want to be a big city, we dream big, and this is a big idea.” - Mayor Stephen Mandel, 02/22/2012

^ Yes, that's the grocery store on Jasper Ave/117 St.
In all its latter iterations...Hull's, Champions, etc...it has always retained a Safeway-like feel.

I guess it depends what one means by a "Safeway-like feel", but I've found that most of the Safeways-turned-something-else generally carried on a Safeway vibe. Something about the layout, the sounds, I dunno.

^ Yes, that's the grocery store on Jasper Ave/117 St.
In all its latter iterations...Hull's, Champions, etc...it has always retained a Safeway-like feel.
I'm guessing that Safeway pulled out of there when Oliver Square first opened?

Sometime around that time, It also vacated the sites on 124th and 102nd Ave (MEC) and 124th and Kingsway at the same time as they had to vacate various sites around the city due to some sort of competition ruling due to Safeway having the lions share of the grocery market.

Ran across the pic and I thought it was rather cool. TD is still there which is pretty neat in it's self. Don't see those annoying old codgers from the commercials loitering about though...LOL They may be lurking in the parked MG they would have been young enough back then...HA HA HA.,

Oliver Safeway

I still remember the origanal Crosstown Motors was located on that site. I used to live on 102 Ave x 117 st. My brother and I were absolutely car crazy and we often went to various dealerships collecting dealer brochures,Mom would toss them out as fast as we collected them. If only we knew what those brochures are now worth, we would be fairly wealthy men. When my brother restored his 69 Chrysler 300 he bought a brochure for it. He paid $40 for it and that was 20 years ago. I remember Crosstown because they brought in their Turbine Car for a promotion. I remember thinking that was one of the nicest looking cars I had ever laid eyes on. This would have been back in 64 the dawn of the muscle car era. Nirvana for car freaks

Well Hi!
I finally read through all 12 pages of this thread - laughed a lot and blubbered a bit too!

Here's what I remember (and don't...)

Fullers Restaurants and those gawdawful pink booths
Uncle Nickys
Baw baw baw baw chicken mannnnn
Peanutty Koogle with the koo koo koogley eyes (Banana was my fav)
ATV'ing in Terwilliger - big mud hole with great hills back then
Drinking (etc) at Twin Bridges
Meeting Anson Williams in person (woo) at taping of some interview show at ITV - Alan Thicke maybe...mid 70's...
the band Privilege - singer Mel Deegan great music
Pepchews and Molly-O chocolate bars
Brown Cows at the Dub
Scona Pool Hall
Burger Baron Pizza Burger or Great Canadian at KFC Burger King on 99th
Barb & Ernies - OMG Pancakes - are they still there 91st or 99th?
...seems to be on a food theme happening here...
Baaco Pizza - pretty good
Royal Pizza on 104th south - the BEST pizza ever. Still. To this day.
Medium #11 at "BP"
little wee Soap Gums (that stuck like hell to your teeth) and Thrills Gum
Woodwards - anything - I still miss that place. Great store - awesome staff - what a waste.
Zumburger at Southgate- I saw that mentioned in the thread - hit a spot just can't remember - was that the restaurant in the middle of the mall - 50's style? What was the great deli in the mall - down by...the library I think - great desserts I remember. enough food
Omar Khayam lounge - CI South
The Park Hotel (probably shouldn't admit that I drank there...)
CI South, Yellowhead, the Cap, the Riv,
Funland Arcade - rings a bell - wasn't there some sort of scam story -mid 70's?
Coke - early 70's - didn't they come out with a 19oz bottle? didn't last long - probably replaced by the one litre??? I have googled - no luck..anyone else remember this?
MacCauley Plaza - remember it being underground? Is it still there?
The great Xmas windows displays at Eatons with all the mice.

Wow - I've rambled. Better stop. I hope someone reads this and smiles at a memory or two...

My brother and I were absolutely car crazy and we often went to various dealerships collecting dealer brochures,Mom would toss them out as fast as we collected them. If only we knew what those brochures are now worth, we would be fairly wealthy men. When my brother restored his 69 Chrysler 300 he bought a brochure for it. He paid $40 for it and that was 20 years ago.

That's a great recollection! I used to collect car brochures as well when I was a child that elicited a similar maternal response.

Yes I remember that dealership, my dad and I took a spin in a then new Triumph Herald, these cars had terrible electrical systems. I remember my dad barely fit into the drivers seat and poor me even at age 12 was squished into the back seat. Needless to say dad did not by the Triumph but did go home with a salmon pink and white 58 Pontiac Strato Chief from the dealers used car lot.

Does anyone remember the name of the dining lounge/restaurant on approx 105 ave. and 96 street that was originally a church? I know it became Danny Hoopers Stockyard but we are trying to remember what it was called before he took it over. Thanks.

Memories

...oh how the memories flood back as i read this posts!! Bless you all!!
-walking through Woodward's Westmount, from the north end department store towards the food floor. The bakery was on the right side, and smelled divine! The bismarcks and jelly donuts were incredible.
-fries and gravy at Kresges lunch counter, with a Tahiti Treat to drink!
-going to Aladdin's Palace arcade at Kingsway with a pocket full of quarters and playing for hours!!
-playing with the table top juke boxes at the old bus depot!!

I just have to vent - why is south Edmonton referred to as NW on google maps, 411 ca,etc etc? Last time I checked 45th Avenue and 106 Street was South Edmonton. Not according to any map you can get on-line. What am I missing? I haven't lived there in a long time - did they move it?

When the streets were numbered way back when, the thought was that 100 blocks would be more than enough room so the center of town was numbered 101 & 101 (Jasper). When the city expanded to the south they essentially ran out of numbers. A number of ideas were tossed around, including adding 1000 to all addresses (12345 - 67 street would have become 112345 - 1067 st for example). It was decided that simple going to a quadrant system and making the existing city NW with the new origin at 1 st and 1 ave. South of that and the avenue would be South. East of there and the Street would be East, hence an intersection would be listed as SE.

I wouldn't exactly call myself an old-timer but you young whippersnappers may...

Back in 1978 I was working for the Commonwealth Games and had arraigned to meet my boss, recently arrived from Ontario to meet at First and Jasper for a lunch meeting. She never showed so, after having a nosh, I headed back to work. Two hours later she was back at the headquarters building, boiling mad. She had driven out to Refinery Row looking for First and Jasper. After we explained the situation she had a laugh but was still confused why we'd drop the "Hundred and" from the street names.

^This old-timer is 70 and I still say it all the time. I came to Edmonton (Population: 235,000)in 1960 to attend U of A: Edmonton boundaries were 149 St. (J.P. amalgamated 1964), 50 St. (Beverly amalgamated 1961), 132 Ave. north, and the Riviera Hotel marked the southern most point. There was no need for the One Hundred and....... back then. Now it causes problems.

I've just discovered this site, It's cool with all the old memories flooding back. I've lived in the North end all my life and have seen Castledowns go from open country to older neighborhoods. Speedway Park, watching the can am races by laying under semi's parked at the west end of the track placed there to try and block the view. Twin Drive-in's. Riding bicycles north on 113A St till you came to a farm. Or north on 127 St making sure you were going as fast as you could around 170 Ave (It's now 167 Ave) since a dog that lived there used to come running out chasing you nipping at your feet. We lived close to the flight path of planes and we'd try and get extra string for our kites to get them as high as possible.

My paremts used to manage the apartment blocks on 118 Ave X 127 st, the name of the apartments escapes me at the moment. I remember hearing the drag racers at speedway. Need 4 speed must have lived fairly close by to me

=Those bus numbers appear to be out of the 70s after my time. The buses I used were the #5 which I caught on 118 Ave X124 st. I was involved in air cadets back in the mid 60s (504 sqn) which were housed in the 700 wing building across from the airport. My dad was career military so we moved about quite a bit until dad retired.

I was in the cadet program from 1966-68 the C.O was a former RAF pilot by the name of Squadron Leader Alvin C Tuttle, he was everybody's idea of a British fighter pilot ram rod straight, handlebar mustache of coarse a very refined British accent. I think he was reliving his youth in the cadets. He loved to show WWII movies British and RAF of coarse. We had movie night once a month. I swear to this day I can recite the movie The Dambusters line for line. I was in the honour guard when they commemorated the Sabre and I have fond memories of been in the honour guard during Rememberance day ceremonies

My name is Bob Walker. I was born in Edmonton and grew up in St. Albert in the 50s and 60s. I was in Air Cadet Squadron 533 and played bugle in the band for two years. I was a professional musician for 11 years and played in several local bands including the Warp Factor and the Privilege with Mel Degen. You can check out www.walker-entertainment.com to see who I was back then.

There weren't may late night eateries in the 60s and of our favorites after gigs or acid trips was The Grinder on 109 St just south of the High Level bridge and across from the Garneau.

In grade 10 one of my good friends was a guy name Leonard Lock. Leonard had grown up in JP and for two years he told me stories about the tough guys he knew. One of them was a guy named Eddie Crowbell who was the toughest guy around. I never believed any of it but I humored him and they were always good stories.

On a Friday in May, 1967 I did my very first gig with the Warp Factor at the Forum, which was on Stony Plain Road just west of 142 St by then. During the first break I went into the restroom to pee and there was only a sink and a toilet and no lock on the door. As I was in the toilet stall with my back to the room someone came in behind me and I could hear him pissing in the sink. I finished up and tried to get by him but he held out his arm to block my exit.

"What did you see?" he asked in a menacing tone. I was scared sh*tless and afraid that this was leading to a beating regardless of what I said but I wasn't going to wimp out right away and replied "Nothing". He asked again even more menacingly; "What did you see?" This time I literally shouted "F**k all" in a shaky voice. Then he grabbed my shoulder and drew his other arm back as if to hit me and then blurted out "Who's the toughest guy in JP?" I figured that I had nothing to lose at this point and since it was the only name that came to mind with that stimulus I said "Eddie Crowbell." He dropped his left arm from my shoulder and stuck out the right hand that seconds before was going to pulverize my face while he exuberantly exclaimed "That's me...put it here." He proceeded to do some shadow boxing in the small restroom while talking about how tough he was and then said "If any of those guys out there ever give you any hassle you tell them that you know Eddie Crowbell and watch them run." I went out to play the second set and I never saw him or heard anything about him again.

My paremts used to manage the apartment blocks on 118 Ave X 127 st, the name of the apartments escapes me at the moment. I remember hearing the drag racers at speedway. Need 4 speed must have lived fairly close by to me

We had a band house on 127 St in the70s that was right across the street from the NE corner of Speedway.

I remember the days of Beaver Lumber, Video Station, Bi-Way, IGA and the old WARP 1 location in the Strathcona area. I also remember Comic Castle, Scona Billiards, Grabba Java, Albert's Family Restaraunt and the Ranford Hotel on Whyte. I remember watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at the Princess theater. I remember the Ed-Tel museum on Whyte which was free for kids and they had a theater showing a history of phones with a talking robot coming out of the wall. I remember the AGT building before it became Telus. That's when all the privatization happened under Klein I believe. Lot's of change in that period. I also remember when bus fare was 75 cents for kids, late 80's/early 90's. I also remember the high unemployment during that time and the cheap housing everywhere.

Yea, me and my friends were rascals in those days always trying to find trouble. That was before computers, high tech gadgets and fancy video games became cheap and affordable. If you ever saw kids stick fighting, playing tag in other people's yards and climbing roofs, that was probably us, lol. Good times.

You're a bit after my time. 25 cents for an adult fare or 15 cents for a child. You could get two tickets for a quarter. That was back when bus drivers gave change.

Got my drivers license at the highways building down near the legislature. That was back before project uni when the High level bridge, the 105 St Bridge and Queen Elizabeth Road all had two way traffic. There was also a traffic circle at the north end of the 105 St Bridge.

- When Mill Woods /Edmonton ended on Ellerslie Road
-When south common was not there
-when it was just superstore and walmart, home depot, staples.
-when heritage mall was cool and had the cool small toilets for kids
- when the buses were the old, orange seat ones
-when it was 3$ for 2 people for the bus

So many more <3

Amy, Living in Mill Woods Edmonton for 2O years and counting and wouldn't change a thing <3 My home!

You're a bit after my time. 25 cents for an adult fare or 15 cents for a child. You could get two tickets for a quarter. That was back when bus drivers gave change.

Got my drivers license at the highways building down near the legislature. That was back before project uni when the High level bridge, the 105 St Bridge and Queen Elizabeth Road all had two way traffic. There was also a traffic circle at the north end of the 105 St Bridge.

Does anyone remember the name of the dining lounge/restaurant on approx 105 ave. and 96 street that was originally a church? I know it became Danny Hoopers Stockyard but we are trying to remember what it was called before he took it over. Thanks.

I remember when ETS routes had a letter at the start of the route number to tell you what part of the city they went to: N13 - North, S4 - South. There were also 4 ring routes, actually two routes with each direction having a different number R3, R4

I remember when ETS routes had a letter at the start of the route number to tell you what part of the city they went to: N13 - North, S4 - South. There were also 4 ring routes, actually two routes with each direction having a different number R3, R4

At that time you could wait for these buses on a dark green bench that said, "Rest and Read the Journal"

I remember when gas was .35 cents a litre--and when it went up to .40 thinking it was time to park the car!

I remember when a nice person would come out and pump from the bowser for you and ask if you wanted your oil checked. (I always did because it was the only way it ever was checked.)

I remember when Manulife II had shops in it. Dania Down Quilts is one that springs to mind. There used to be the best place for baklava and Turkish pizza in the food court in ML II.

I remember coming from the south side up any hill and seeing cranes everywhere. (Oh wait this view is back, yeah!)

I remember when the Edmonton Bay building actually had a Hudsons Bay Store in it.

I remember when driving out to the International Airport seemed to take forever and the highlight was the grain elevator at Ellerslie with the quote John 3:16 “for God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son.” I miss that grain elevator.

I remember when the Rat Hole was a dark and wet way to traverse 109 Street—it was unique and a hoot to drive though.

I remember when travelling and mentioning that I was from Edmonton (…Alberta…Canada) drew blank stares and then the question how close to Toronto, Vancouver etc. inevitably followed. WEM helped change that and the World Games and the Masters and the Grand Prix…and the fact that Edmonton truly is the best city, in the best province in the best country in the world.

Thanks Bill, I remember when you used to say this and it rang hollow—no more. Edmonton truly is a first class city and I wonder what people will say twenty years from now—what will they remember…how will Edmonton circa 2006 be remembered as?

I remember when driving out to the International Airport seemed to take forever and the highlight was the grain elevator at Ellerslie with the quote John 3:16 “for God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son.” I miss that grain elevator.

I sorta miss that grain elevator as well, though as a teenager I'm sure I wanted it gone. It made anyone coming in from the airport think we were a bunch of bible-thumping hayseeds, but what the hell. It was local colour.

I remember having been at Goose Looney's a couple of times years and years ago.

Yep way back when, There were only 4 really cool clubs in town, Goose Looneys, Flashback on 104th st for the ultra trendy/gay crowd. The one in the basement of the former Sheraton-Caravan Hotel (Now the Holiday Inn Express)

I can't remember it's name.....age I tell you!!!! on 104thstreet and 100 Ave.

And the one in the "fake train station building" that is still there across from the former Derrick Dodge dealership originally called Barry ......Something.

God that was such a fun decade in the 80's People from Calgary and Vancouver would come to Flash (The original one not the copy cat now) Because it was the hippest club in Western Canada.

I remember meeting people from New York while working there... amazed that Edmonton had a club like that it even made them envious.

Reminds me of those days in the late 80s and the 90s when bar-hopping meant driving from one end of town to another.

Thanks my brain was dead....And yes back then we were all "guilty" getting into the car totally wasted to drive across town to party and drink at another bar. But for me it was the "early 80's"

Do you remember what the club in the basement of Sheraton-Caravan was called......This is going to drive me crazy all night! It was all "New Wave" music and each table had a phone you could call the other table at. Sooooo pre cell-phone it was almost primitive. LOL....

Prior to it being called Rusty's the bar at 75th and Argyll was simply known as the Regency bar.
In the 70's most bars didn't have a name, they were just known by the name of the hotel they were in.
Growing up on the south east side back in the day, the local bars were the Rex, the Cap, the Highwayman and the Regency.
They alll had loud bars and quiet bars.
My favorite was the Rex. The loud bar there had great bands, usually harder rocking than the others. The Rex also had two quiet bars, the orange room and the red room, as well as a lounge with live entertainment.
The orange room was usually full of young guys just getting loaded while the Red Room was for the older chronics.
The Cap (Capilano Hotel) usually didn't feature live music in the bar but on weekends had Cabarets with some pretty good bands.
The Highwayman (Highway Motor Inn) was a country bar but also had weekend Cabarets with great live bands.
The Regency on 75th and Argyll never seemed to have its' act together, they would occasionally have country bands and other times no entertainment at all. (pre Rusty's)

I remember having been at Goose Looney's a couple of times years and years ago.

Yep way back when, There were only 4 really cool clubs in town, Goose Looneys, Flashback on 104th st for the ultra trendy/gay crowd. The one in the basement of the former Sheraton-Caravan Hotel (Now the Holiday Inn Express)

I can't remember it's name.....age I tell you!!!! on 104thstreet and 100 Ave.

And the one in the "fake train station building" that is still there across from the former Derrick Dodge dealership originally called Barry ......Something.

God that was such a fun decade in the 80's People from Calgary and Vancouver would come to Flash (The original one not the copy cat now) Because it was the hippest club in Western Canada.

I remember meeting people from New York while working there... amazed that Edmonton had a club like that it even made them envious.

Remember The Ambassador on 105st? Otherwise known as the Ambo and featured a lot of punk bands.

I saw the Cowboy Junkies play there before they became big. Mid 80s some time.

re: The Cap, I grew up down the road from there. It always struck me as a rather depressing place to have a hotel. I really like the general aesthetics of Refinery Row, but I think it's most suitable for industrial developments. King's College actually seemed a lot cooler back when they were in their old location. Say what you will about the inner-city, it's got a bit more character than the suburban outskirts.

Was it the Cap that had the restaurant known as the Roughneck? Or was that somewhere else in the area?

There is still a Roughneck Restaurant on 50 st. south of 76 ave.
To be honest I never spent much time in the restaurants, just the bars!
The bar in the Ambassador was absolutely fantastic, they had Blues acts before they had punk bands but I used to go to both.
The Ambassador sort of took over from the Corona as the biker/hooker/whatever bar downtown. It was a guaranteed interesting night anytime you went there!

Prior to it being called Rusty's the bar at 75th and Argyll was simply known as the Regency bar.
In the 70's most bars didn't have a name, they were just known by the name of the hotel they were in.
Growing up on the south east side back in the day, the local bars were the Rex, the Cap, the Highwayman and the Regency.
They alll had loud bars and quiet bars.
My favorite was the Rex. The loud bar there had great bands, usually harder rocking than the others. The Rex also had two quiet bars, the orange room and the red room, as well as a lounge with live entertainment.
The orange room was usually full of young guys just getting loaded while the Red Room was for the older chronics.
The Cap (Capilano Hotel) usually didn't feature live music in the bar but on weekends had Cabarets with some pretty good bands.
The Highwayman (Highway Motor Inn) was a country bar but also had weekend Cabarets with great live bands.
The Regency on 75th and Argyll never seemed to have its' act together, they would occasionally have country bands and other times no entertainment at all. (pre Rusty's)

/\ There were others as well, The Lucky Lady at the Crest, the Londonderry and there was a bar in the basement of the hotel on 105 street north of Jasper downtown that had good bands for a while.
In the early 80's the best room in town was The Rock Room at the Riviera. I saw Split Enz and Joe Cocker there as well as a whole bunch of great bands that I really can't remember.

A little change of subject but does anyone remember a restaurant in Edmonton that looked like a house off the flintstones??? I remember as a little kid in the back seat driving by and thinking it was the coolest thing i had ever seen. I think it might have been called "The Cave" Where was it located?? This would have been in the early seventies if I remember correct.

In the early 80's the best room in town was The Rock Room at the Riviera. I saw Split Enz and Joe Cocker there as well as a whole bunch of great bands that I really can't remember.

HA...the Riv Rock Room! Good memories from what I can remember. I think it was there where I saw the Kings. Their catalogue was short and they must have played Switchin' to Glide/This Beat Goes On about 4 times that night.

I used to have a recording (wife had me toss all my 8-tracks about 8 years ago) of the Battered Wives from the Riv Rock Room. They were known for the, Uganda Stomp.

Back when there was only two fast food locations chains in this city our local Burger King/ Kentucky Fried Chicken Drive throughs and a chain where is was sooooo cool to get served and eat in your parents car.

They played this on the radio ie (in the car before there was anything else to listen to) and there were TV ads the song always got stuck kids heads way back then.http://www.radiowest.ca/sound/a&w.mp3

I remember we only got to go to the one on the Calgary Trail just north of 53 Avenue when that was the edge of town. The one on 109th street was always passed by after Christmas shopping downtown we NEVER got to go to that one. The one on Stony Plain Road was a rare trip too.